Adam's FINE ASIAN ART 28th,29th,30th Preview June 2022

18 AN IMPORTANT AND RARE WHITE JADE FIGURE OF A DAOSHI 道士 CHINA, POSSIBLY SONG DYNASTY OR LATER The Daoshi, or Daoist Priest is rare or possibly unique, depicted standing and wearing a loose robe tied at the waist with a belt and wearing an archetypal hat. His right hand is gripping his belt, his left hand is holding a fly-whisk also known as a ‘Fúchén’, ( 拂尘 ), his head is turned to one side, sensitively carved in the round from white jade, the stone of even white tone. H: 5,3 cm Weight: 27,5 grams Provenance (by repute): - a private collection in Brittany, France; - a private collection, Canada, acquired from the above. Notes: 1. The Daoshi is an ordained priest of Taoism and during the Song dynasty such people were some of the most influential and powerful in society. The elite Daoshi had access to the most sacred teachings and texts and they performed the most sacred ritu- als meant to discern or change the course of fate. It is known that during the Song Dynasty, Taoism went through a renaissance of sorts, Emperors were actively involved in promoting Taoism including collecting and studying Taoist texts and publishing new editions of the Daozang, ( 道藏 ), or ‘Taoist Canon’, consisting of approx 1,400 important Taoist texts. 2. It is remarkable that the carver has pushed the limits of the stone to precariously and exceptionally carve the thin round han- dle of the fly-whisk in such a manner. 3. The size, the subject matter, the archetypal hat and robes as well as the carving technique and choice of stone all appear con- sistent with a Song Dynasty date. €8,000 - €12,000 PROPERTIES FROM A NOTED COLLECTOR OF JADES & SNUFFBOTTLES